seat!  That unrighteous chief of the deities will today insult thee by a kick, in consequence of his understanding being afflicted by fate and for bringing about his own downfall.  Incensed at such an insult I shall today curse that sinful wretch, that enemy of the Brahmanas, that has transcended all restraints, saying, ’Be thou transformed into a snake!’ In the very sight, O great ascetic, I shall today hurl down on the earth the wicked-souled Nahusha who shall be deprived of all energy in consequence of the cries of ‘Fie’ that will be uttered from all sides.[445] Verily, I shall hurl down Nahusha today, that wight of unrighteous deeds, who has, besides, been stupefied by lordship and power.  I shall do this, if it be acceptable to thee, O ascetic!  Thus addressed by Bhrigu, Mitravaruna’s son Agastya of unfading puissance and glory, became highly gratified and freed from every anxiety.’”

SECTION C

“Yudhishthira said, ’How was Nahusha plunged into distress?  How was he hurled down on the earth?  How, indeed, was he deprived of the sovereignty of the gods?  It behoveth thee to recite everything to me.’

“Bhishma said, ’Even thus did those two Rishis, viz., Bhrigu and Agastya, converse with each other.  I have already told thee how Nahusha, when he first became the chief of the gods, acted in a becoming way.  Verily, all acts of human and celestial nature flowed from that high souled royal sage!  The offering of light, and all other rites of a similar kind, the due presentation of Valis, and all rites as are performed on especially sacred days,—­all these were properly observed by the high-souled Nahusha who had become the sovereign of the deities.[446] Pious acts are always observed by those that are possessed of wisdom, in both the world of men and that of the deities.  Verily, O foremost of kings, if such acts are observed, householders always succeed in acquiring prosperity and advancement.  Even such is the effect of the gift of lamps and of incense, as also of bows and prostrations, to the deities.  When food is cooked, the first portion thereof should be offered to a Brahmana.  The particular offerings called Vali should also be presented to the household deities.  The deities become gratified with such gifts.[447] It is also well-known that the measure of gratification which the deities derive from such offerings is a hundred times as great as that which the householder himself derives from making them.  Persons endued with piety and wisdom make offerings of incense and lights, accompanying them with bows and prostrations.  Such acts are always fraught with advancement and prosperity to those that do them.  Those rites which the learned go through in course of their ablutions, and with the aid of waters, accompanied with bows unto the gods, always contribute to the gratification of the gods.  When worshipped with proper rites, the highly blessed Pitris, Rishis